I enjoy all KINDS of music, but I would not say I’m the hugest modern R&B fan. That being said, for different reasons I really dig The Weeknd and his brand of almost morbid, dark R&B. Something about his production on his first mixtapes have a gloomy vibe about them that gets under my skin in the right way. I know for a fact I like juxtaposition between his to the point and almost unhinged lyrics set against the backdrop of the “I feel nothing but pain” kind of production. The Weeknd is always willing to take chances with his song structures that many in his genre are afraid to do, which keeps his sound ahead of the game. His visuals have a surreal vibe happening in them that draws me in. He even has casted the old school, almost dead-looking Rick Wilder of the L.A. punk band the Mau Maus as the Devil in his videos. I know one song that made me a fan was when I heard the way he flipped “Happy House” by Siouxsie and the Banshees, as well as sampling “Cherry-Coloured Funk” by Cocteau Twins. Ever since I heard Trip Hop in the 90’s, I have been into the sombre beat of this genre, and The Weeknd takes influence from this space and time as well. More than anything, I respect honesty in music, not the genre of music it is, and this is the reason why I feel the way I feel about this dude and his creativity! Am I the only Metalhead or Punk out there that is into The Weeknd? I have a feeling I’m not alone, and if so, enjoy the mammoth video essay taking place below!
jk8708
December 10, 2015 at 8:18 am
You are not alone. Been listening to this guy for awhile and earlier this year when he blew up, I couldn’t believe that casual music fans could even get into it. Seems like it would be too experimental and weird to appeal to a mainstream audience. It is great to see such a genuine artist achieve so much popularity and acclaim. Unlike so many others, he actually deserves it.
Myke C-Town
December 10, 2015 at 6:01 am
Nope. You are definitely not alone in this one, Sean.
William Walter
December 10, 2015 at 2:10 am
You kidding? I gravitate to sludge, doom, noise, stoner, and black metal mostly; but you’ll see me at raves constantly, or listening to The Weeknd, FKA Twigs, and various other pop/hip hop. Hell, even the new Bieber album is solid.
You should never be ashamed or have to justify your music taste to anyone… Unless it’s ICP or Nickelback.
Joseph MacTàmhais
December 10, 2015 at 2:15 am
Man, I fucking love FKA Twigs. Weeknd’s phenomenal too.
Amé Raka
December 10, 2015 at 2:44 am
If you live your life with certain believes, like not being part of the big machine that is commercial music then I understand feeling the need to justify your self. Personally I won’t go anywhere near this kind of music because of that exact reason. Being punk goes way beyond listening to music my friend.
Winston Smith
December 10, 2015 at 3:00 am
Nickelback are the exception to every musical rule.
Joey Lummox
December 10, 2015 at 3:04 am
Fuck Bieber. And fuck EDM shit. Don’t care.
William Walter
December 10, 2015 at 3:24 am
And that’s fine, you can not like whatever music you don’t wanna like; I’m sure there’s stuff you listen to that I think is fucking garbage as well. It happens. Whatever.
Raven Lee Willis
December 10, 2015 at 6:36 am
Grimes is my weakness. And it’s so sickeningly sweet at times.
William Walter
December 10, 2015 at 7:00 am
Grimes is amazing; her newest album is pure gold.
Andres Felipe Tapasco
December 10, 2015 at 1:49 pm
love u guys
Brandon Christian
December 10, 2015 at 2:07 am
i thought i was alone all this time!
Ariel Thomas
December 10, 2015 at 2:00 am
Lol you’re allowed to listen to whatever you want you know.
Juan Marcelo Hernández G.
December 10, 2015 at 1:50 am
the weeknd is cool and im a death metal freak
Kerry Sisco
December 10, 2015 at 1:49 am
Nope.
Octavio Emiliano Hernandez Jr.
December 10, 2015 at 1:48 am
No, but I do hate their single. Lol
Matt Loudon
December 10, 2015 at 1:44 am
White people love The Weeknd.
Sebastian Andrés
December 10, 2015 at 1:43 am
Listen man I fuck quite heavily with the weekend at least 52 times a year
Rahmat Gunawan
December 10, 2015 at 1:42 am
Yusuf Aji W
Yusuf Aji W
December 10, 2015 at 2:17 am
earned brah LOL
Dylan Martinez
December 10, 2015 at 1:41 am
definitely a metalhead, also a fan of the weeknd. I don’t think one precludes the other, though.
Vlad Bohachski
December 10, 2015 at 1:34 am
Nope!
Bronson Barton
December 10, 2015 at 1:29 am
Honestly, dude is fucking awesome! Regular baby making music
Gary Evans
December 10, 2015 at 1:19 am
Never knew there was a us band called mau maus,only one I knew was the uk band from the 80s
To Ny
December 10, 2015 at 1:19 am
Wait, what? … CVLT Nation just have been hacked…
Candace Dalgai
December 10, 2015 at 1:19 am
Is it just me, or does he have a MJ voice going on?
Ayan Sinha
December 10, 2015 at 7:33 am
Its not just you. He’s definitely got the MJ vibes.
Simon Sier
December 10, 2015 at 1:18 am
Weekend nachos
Jessica Issel Luna
December 10, 2015 at 1:17 am
🤘🏼
Juan P. Gómez
December 10, 2015 at 1:18 am
Stahp
Candace Dalgai
December 10, 2015 at 1:22 am
XD I’m totally listening to Depeche Mode right now XD
Mark Masching
December 10, 2015 at 1:14 am
I believe there is a 3rd e in weekend
Mathijsen MacLennan
December 10, 2015 at 3:25 am
Nope
Aldo Dávalos
December 10, 2015 at 8:02 am
The guy needs an stage name
Ethan Bielik
December 10, 2015 at 1:14 am
Yes I love the weekend!
Winston Smith
December 10, 2015 at 1:13 am
Metalheads and punks are the only people I know who feel like they have to verbalise some kind of justification for liking other types of music. They are also the only people I know who shut themselves off from wider experience lest they not appear ‘kvlt’ enough. In fact, the only time this non-issue gets discussed is by people immersed in those musics – non-genre aficionados don’t care and rightly so. Personally speaking I don’t like the music in this article, but I can appreciate it’s merit to those who do without criticising them for enjoying it. Why is it that punks and metalheads feel a constant need for peer validation? Why the constant need to appear more ‘scene’ than the next person? Why not just like whatever you like, regardless of whether it is part of a narrowly defined and restrictive set of genre ‘rules’? I treasure my eclectic taste and screw any narrow minded elitist scene types who look down on that.
Dani Zig
December 10, 2015 at 1:16 am
Ye… couldnt explain it better
L'Heure du Loup
December 10, 2015 at 1:32 am
Well said! 🙂
Greg Zakrzewski
December 10, 2015 at 1:47 am
Yep
Cisco Francisco
December 10, 2015 at 2:12 am
Apart from metalheads and punks i would add rockabillies to your list.
Diana Rasmussen
December 10, 2015 at 2:40 am
I’m a metalhead and I approve of this (y) 🙂
Winston Smith
December 10, 2015 at 2:58 am
Very true Cisco. I love rockabilly and psychobilly too, but it’s a closed culture in my experience – if you don’t rock the clothes and the music *exclusively* 24/7 then you are made to feel excluded. Shit like that makes me sad. I’m not entirely sure that there is even a need for such subcultures in the 21st century, even though they may once have been invaluable.
David Zoller
December 10, 2015 at 4:15 am
Well fucking said
Caitlin Flopkins
December 10, 2015 at 5:27 am
this. right here. EXACTLY
Zachariah Pitz
December 10, 2015 at 7:43 am
“Hey guys. I’m very unique and original. But am I the only one who likes hardcore AND Morrissey? Surely no one is as eclectic and diverse as me”. -every hardcore kid
Don Jaun Demarco
December 10, 2015 at 8:21 am
Yawn
Luc Kisling
December 10, 2015 at 8:24 am
Zachariah knows what’s up.
Markus Joven
December 10, 2015 at 8:37 am
My thoughts exactly. Well said.
James Moorby
December 10, 2015 at 8:44 am
Well said.
Fabian Zuniga
December 10, 2015 at 8:49 am
Most punks I know, including myself, are into all types of genre’s and openly. We just don’t like soul less music that sucks.
David King
December 10, 2015 at 10:06 am
Well fucking said, sir. Proud metalhead here, but I also love artists that play punk, classic rock, blues, motown, reggae, hip hop, new wave, rockabilly…hell, even some old country! Fuck fitting in a box to appease ANYONE. You like what you like and don’t have to prove a goddamn thing.
Dani Zig
December 10, 2015 at 1:12 am
Fuck no! 😉
Tyler James
December 10, 2015 at 1:11 am
Best
Matt Green
December 10, 2015 at 1:07 am
Alex Lindsay
Alex Lindsay
December 10, 2015 at 10:22 am
Holy shit.
Matthew James
December 10, 2015 at 1:06 am
No.